Junior chiefs defiant
Continue strike despite appeal from College of Chiefs
‘MATHATO SEBOKA
MASERU – Junior chiefs across the country have refused to return to work despite a public appeal by the College of Chiefs last Wednesday urging them to resume their duties.
In a statement to this publication, Principal Chief Khoabane Theko, admitted that no disciplinary measures have been taken against the striking chiefs, who remain absent from their responsibilities.
“We are still observing the actions of the striking chiefs. As we mentioned in last week’s media briefing, we have urged them to return to work,” Theko said.
Meanwhile, the Lesotho Economic Freedom Fighters (LEEF) issued a statement last Sunday condemning the strike, calling it “unnecessary” and criticizing the chiefs’ demands.
The strike follows broader unrest among traditional leaders and village health workers in Lesotho. Chiefs are demanding an over 100 percent salary increase, citing a 2024 agreement with the Ministry of Local Government, while village health workers seek a monthly stipend of M2 400, as ordered by the Labour Court in 2023.
Public opinion remains divided, with some supporting the workers’ demands while others accuse chiefs of insensitivity to the public, and with no resolution in sight, the standoff raises questions about governance and accountability in Lesotho’s traditional leadership structures.
The LEEF argues while the standoff continues that: “It is important to remember that a chief is a chief through people and whenever there is conflict, chiefs are the ones who solve problems, and they are not the ones to instigate them.”
The statement further said that in future, the chiefs should find ways to resolve problems in clear and respectable manner, “for community, not by harassing and killing them by shutting down services.”
In their last week presser, Chief ‘Mamolapo Majara on behalf of the College of Chiefs said that the Chiefs in Lesotho are guided on the Chieftainship Act No 22 of 1968 stressing that there is no strike at all.
“Chiefs are expected to provide services and amenities to their communities in their care, in accordance with the obligations and rules of the Lesotho Monarchy.
As 22 Principal Chiefs in Lesotho together with the chief of Thaba-Tšoeu and Likueneng, we declare that according to the system and laws of the Lesotho Monarchy, there is no connection between the chiefs and labour union called LEWA or any other because the chiefs are not employees according to the laws of the monarchy and its system,” she stated.
She went on that “based on the Constitutional Law, Section 154 (4) there is in no way LEWA can make publication on behalf of the Chiefs of Lesotho, such a publication is a violation of the law especially where the chiefs are concerned.”
Majara showed that they chiefs cannot be instigated by anyone to go against their laws.
“We wish to alert the chiefs, LEWA and other Associations, that chiefs are not government servants, so they cannot speak out at the instigation of anyone against the laws of the Lesotho Monarchy.”
Principal Chiefs said that they understand that all the chiefs under their jurisdiction receive little salaries as compared to their responsibilities.
“We call on all chiefs under our jurisdiction to return to work immediately because not being on public duty is a violation of law,” Majara said.
“In situation where the chiefs have ignored this appeal, the solution is for the community to go to the Principal Chiefs’ offices.”
Local government minister, Lebona Lephema, in a public statement over radio and television said: “The local government ministry informs the chiefs that the government is currently reviewing the issues of chiefs’ salaries and the government will issue an announcement on how its proceedings with the salary adjustments will turn out.”
Lephema said that for this reason, there is no need for the chiefs to say that they are stopping public services.
“This is where we call on the chiefs to serve the people and the government is doing everything it can to see how it will work to improve the salaries of the chiefs,” he stated.
“I urge the public that where they may encounter a problem, they should approach the nearest chiefs because other chiefs are still working, if there is a problem, the public will receive services from Principal Chiefs and District Administrators’ offices,” Lephema explained.
The chiefs started striking this Monday because after the Ministry of Local Government failed to settle the agreement they made with Lesotho Workers Association (LEWA).
They decided to hold off their services after the Ministry of Local Government breached a settlement agreement they made.
The dispute which was brought before the Directorate of Dispute Prevention and Resolution (DPPR) centred on the review and allowances paid to chiefs across various categories. The LEWA had initially sought a review of those payments, arguing that the current allowances were inadequate.
After few rounds of negotiations, the parties agreed to a settlement that would significantly increase in chiefs’ allowances.
In August 12, 2024, LEWA and Ministry of Local Government reached an agreement before the DDPR to increase the Chiefs’ allowances by up to 100 percent, the increase was effective on April 1.
The disbursement was supposed to be as follows: Area Chief was to be paid M10 674, Area Chief II M7 993, Chief I M5 181, Chief II 3 567 and Headman 3 001, all per month.
On May 15 LEWA penned down to the Social Cluster Committee to intervene, after the Ministry of Local Government failed to honour an agreement to increase the allowance of the chiefs.
The Committee resolved that by May 29 the Ministry of Local Government must provide a response indicating when the salaries will be adjusted.
The total budget for the chief’s allowance was supposed to increase from M120 456 720 to M208 384 140.
